Night Shift and Your Health - Advice Needed

[Maymie]

Hi All!

I have been working as nurse now for almost 2 years - 1 year in post acute rehab, 5 months in an oncology office (didn't last because it was a new position and they weren't ready or set up for an RN), and now almost 6 months in inpatient. I worked nights for 3.5 months. Normally, I am a morning person, waking between 5-6 and asleep by 9-10. I also have a history of anxiety. Working nights totally turned my world upside down. I found myself falling into depression and my anxiety become worse. I would cry before my shifts, I wouldn't sleep due to my anxiety. I would be exhausted no matter how much I slept. I even tried setting alarms because I thought maybe I was sleeping too much - didn't work. I had no dive/energy to get myself out of bed and out of the house. When I would force myself, I found myself too exhausted and just wanting to go back to bed. I didn't see friends or family and my relationship really struggled. I felt sick all the time.

I was in the process of setting up a meeting with my manager when I was offered to go to days for 2 months to help out since they were short staffed. I still met with my manager and expressed my struggles. Basically, I was told there wasn't much she could do because there were still a couple people in front of me with seniority to move to days.

Ive now been on days for a month and can see just how unhealthy nights were. I am energized, I am actually HAPPY on my way to work. I am enjoying my job more. I am rested and back to my normal life. Even my long-time boyfriend whom I live with says I am two totally different people.

Now that I can see just how much nights really affected my health, I am at the point I refuse to go back to nights. I plan to meet with my manager again to let her know. I feel I shouldn't sacrifice my entire life and fall back into that dark place again for a job.

Any advice/words of wisdom/encouragement from fellow nurses who feel the same or have felt the same? I love the floor I work on and don't want to leave, but my health is more important to me. I would hate to quit. I am also worried if I am forced to quit, it will negatively affect my resume because I would have had 3 jobs in 2 years? Thoughts?

Thanks guys!!

[delphine22]

Some people love nights. I don't love it but I love the extra money. But it's obvious you are not cut out for nights, by the change in your mental health before and afterward. I personally don't sleep as much when I'm on day shift, and don't care for the constant management and family presence.

If your manager can't let you stay on days, then you need to switch jobs, end of story. If your next hiring manager asks why you're switching jobs, tell them the truth: you need to be on days for health reasons, and that wasn't available at your previous employer.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

"Now that I can see just how much nights really affected my health"...

That is all you need to know. Your Circadian rhythm cannot adjust. No job is worth making yourself sick. In a perfect world, your employer will appreciate that.. and you.

FYI , I worked nights for 9 months, slept the entire time I was off and still felt like warmed up dog doodoo. I am one tough chick.. but I am no match for my biorhythms.

You are projecting too far into the future, cross those bridges when you come to them.

Best of luck, please let us know how it's going.

[Eru Ilúvatar]

Some people can adapt to a nocturnal circadian rhythm others cant. I am a night owl and function better physically and cognitively during the night, but i know persons that would die if subjected to such lifestyle.

The best advise its to listen to your body, if its telling you that it wont adapt after 3 weeks then there wont be a change anytime soon. Your health its worth more than all the money in the world.

Also a question... Are you keeping a night schedule on your time off or changing between night to day. If thats the case that right there its your problem, you cant have alternating circadian rhythms or you are gonna end killing yourself in the process. You need at least a couple of weeks to switch from one to the other.

[anon456, BSN, RN]

I have been a night shift nurse for 3 years and enjoy it, but I know nurses who tried everything and simply could not adjust.

My strategy has been to stick to a night schedule on my nights off, too, as much as possible. Go to bed at 2 AM on my nights off and wake up at 10-11 AM. Take a nap if I go in that night to work. Sleep until at least 3PM the day after a shift.

I had tried taking benedryl, melatonin, etc. but I don't need to anymore. I also give my body cues that bedtime is coming soon, like turning off all the lights except one dim one about an hour before bed and avoiding computer use, or at least dimming the screen quite a bit if I need to use the computer before bed.

It's not easy and it's not for everyone. I have never worked days. I'm sure that when I decide to work days when the kids are a lot older, I will probably realize how much better I feel. LOL! For now I just consider being a mom of kids to be a state of chronic tiredness anyway and probably don't realize how much night shift is affecting me. ;-)

[MrsICURN14]

I have the same problem. Am on days temporarily but they're moving me to nights again relatively soon.

I think I'm going to have to be honest and say keep me on days or I'll find another job.

My body can't handle it.

[VampyrSlayer, CNA]

In the end, your health is all you've got. I am somewhat of a night owl, definitely not an early bird. I did night shift at a hotel for 3 years. The first year was fine, but the last two were h-e-double hockey sticks. I also hated that I had no life, my seasonal depression and anxiety got worse. They couldn't offer me days so I resigned. I just started as an LNA (and I mean JUST, today was my first day!) and I told them no to night shifts, even though I'd like the differential. I find I'm perfect for 3-11. Don't have to deal with morning traffic and I still get out the same day. Being able to sleep in front of my big bay window without an eye mask is nice (although I find I need the feeling of something over my eyes since I didn't have blackout curtains). Be honest with future employers and I'm sure most of them are not fans of night shift either and know how unhealthy it can be!

[Maymie]

Thanks everyone for your responses and advice! The more I think about it, the more I realize I have no choice but to be honest and say no to nights, regardless of whether that gets me back to job searching or not. My health is more important! Nights are clearly not for me and I just need to accept that and move forward and realize nights are not for everyone. Here goes nothing.... Fingers crossed for a positive response from my manager!! :)

[Bear05]

I'm going through the same thing now and just can't tolerate nights like I did when I was younger. I'm completely stressed and lost more than 10 lbs this past year d/t nights. Basically, you have to listen to your body because your health comes first. If you can't stick it out until a day shift position opens, you could try applying to other units within your facility if possible. Good luck to you.